Title
Informational Briefing on 2020 Budget Engagement
Recommended Action
Information only. No action requested.
Report
Issue:
Informational briefing on the public engagement for the 2020 budget process
Staff Contact:
Stacey Ray, Senior Planner, Administrative Services Office of Performance and Innovation, 360.753.8046)
Presenter(s):
Stacey Ray, Senior Planner, Administrative Services
Background and Analysis:
2018 was the first year the City hosted a Community Conversation on Budget Priorities to inform the budget process. Mayor Cheryl Selby, and Councilmembers Jessica Bateman and Lisa Parshley, on behalf of the Finance Committee, hosted a conversation with 35 citizens who closely represented a demographic sample of our community, including citizens who typically do not participate in traditional City outreach and engagement processes.
The purpose was to listen to citizen’s perspectives on the top priorities for the City so that City Council could use those perspectives to inform the 2019 budget process. Outcomes from the conversation met several important goals and purposes:
• Councilmembers received valuable input from community member perspectives not normally represented through traditional outreach means;
• Councilmembers were subsequently able to respond to the input received by allocating additional funds to top priority areas they heard from citizens; and
• Foster greater awareness and trust in City government.
Hosting the community conversation was piloted as part of the first full year of implementing the new annual Priorities, Performance, and Investment (PPI) Cycle. The PPI cycle includes gathering the community's priorities and evaluating our performance so we can adjust our investments as necessary to achieve the community's vision.
The purpose of this agenda item is to brief the Commission on the outcomes from the 2018 Community Conversation, and provide of an overview of how the City will replicate the model for the 2020 budget using the online tool Engage Olympia. The goal is to pilot an interactive virtual conversation that is readily accessible to residents, and welcoming for people from a diversity of backgrounds, experiences and abilities. The process will launch on Tuesday, July 9 with a presentation to City Council.
Neighborhood/Community Interests (if known):
The City will seek to engage a broad diversity of community members in providing input on priorities for the 2020 budget.
Options:
Not applicable; briefing only.
Financial Impact:
This work is included in the Office of Performance and Innovation work plan for 2019.
Attachments:
Priorities, Performance, and Investments Cycle
2018 Community Conversation Summary
2019 Budget Engagement Overview